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King Mackerel,Snook,Trout,Drum,Big Jacks & Rough Seas: S

PostPosted: Sun Mar 23, 2003 1:45 pm
by fishbuster
The Bill Murphy party tried to get out on a Fishbuster Charter Monday, but we encountered 5 foot seas, just barely outside the pass, and we decided to return to the dock. The rainy front that moved in Sunday evening had things pretty stirred up.

Tuesday, it was still a bit rough at the Bonita reefs, with 15 knot winds and 3 foot seas. We fished with the Ray Ford party, and caught and released a nice variety, including some unusual catches for gulfside: a 20 inch snook, whiting, and four trout to 18 inches. We also caught loads of ladyfish, Spanish mackerel to 22 inches, and jack cravalle to 6 pounds, along with grouper shorts.

We had similar catches at the reef with the Jerry Fox party Wednesday. We fished in 3-4 foot rough seas, with wind gusts of 15 mph, even though 2-3 foot seas and 5-10 knot winds were predicted. We caught sheepshead to 17 inches, an 18 inch black drum, and released two trout at 17 inches each, a 6 pound jack cravalle, and small Spanish mackerel.

With winds and seas predicted to be even rougher on Thursday and Friday, we stayed in port. We got out again Saturday with the Paul Aronzino party, looking forward to the 5 knot winds and seas less than 2 feet, predicted by NOAA; however, we fished 9 miles off Naples with the weather front hanging over us all morning, in 20 knot winds and 4-5 foot seas. We caught a 38 inch king mackerel, and released lots of blue runners before deciding to head in a bit early. Sunday rained out, and we are hoping next week brings improved conditions.
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